On October 2nd, the Haldane Band got funky!
Jay Prince and Friends is a local band comprising five highly experienced musicians. Much of their repertoire involves pop, funk, and jazz, which they play at weddings and venues such as Uncle Cheef in Brewster, NY. On October 2nd, they performed for the Haldane Wind Ensemble to demonstrate a different kind of music than the young musicians are used to playing.
“We thought it would be a great learning experience for the high school band students,” Jessica Stein, the conductor of the Wind Ensemble, said. With local music groups like Jay Prince and Friends, she aims to teach her class more about their community.
Stein emphasized that showcasing a local band can be a great way for the students to understand the life of a professional musician and gather valuable insight that they can apply to their playing. So, what were their reactions?
“Unlike our band, they play extremely loud,” sophomore and trombone player Benjamin Hutz said. “It, like, actually hurt.”
Despite their reportedly unbearably loud playing, the students thought they performed really well. Another brass player and high school senior, Oliver Petkus, spoke about how fun and engaging the experience was: “They were talented, really nice. It was a nice environment.” Saxophone player Chris Eminizer particularly amazed him. “That guy had a lot of soul,” Petkus said. Moreover, he thought being able to ask questions and talk to the band was also a great way to get the students engaged.
Much soloing was integrated throughout the performance, and many of the students took note. Hutz pointed out that the rest of the band quieted down whenever there was a solo to let the individual stand out. Petkus was surprised by the confidence the soloists showed. “It’s a bold thing to do,” he said.
Along with the countless good impressions, there were some missed opportunities that the students wished to see. Specifically, they mentioned that they learned more from other experiences than from Jay Prince and Friends. “What would be more useful is that we interact with them,” Petkus said, emphasizing how he wanted to work with them instead of simply asking questions. Petkus added that he thought there would be an interactive portion where the students could learn how to solo.
During the past couple of years, the Haldane Wind Ensemble has had similar experiences with groups throughout the Hudson Valley. These include the Brighton Beat, where the students learned to improvise, and the Marist College Band, where both ensembles had a joint concert. Although the students were more involved in both experiences, they still said that Jay Prince and Friends was very insightful and enjoyable. The Haldane band will continue to learn from the community as the year goes on.